Silverwulf
Well-known member
AUTHOR: Silverwulf (Jack Beard)
VERSION: 1.5
LAST UPDATED: 3/2/2017
Welcome to the 3 CHANNEL DUAL & TRIPLE RECTIFIER GUIDE! This guide is intended to provide information based on the original 3 channel Rectifier series that was manufactured from 2000-2010. It currently does not provide information on the Multi-Watt series, although those particular models may be addressed in a future update. It also does not provide any detail on the Series II Single Rectifier/Rectoverb at this time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I am a long time Mesa Boogie user and Rectifier enthusiast. As most folks here have seen over the years, I've owned quite a few Rectifiers in the past. In the course of researching the 2 channel models, I owned 150+ and played many more. I've demoed, tube rolled, gigged, and dissected Rectifiers since I purchased my first one back in the 90's (a 1997 Mesa Dual Rectifier, Rev G). I eventually sold that amp a few years later to fund a (then new) 3 channel Mesa Triple Rectifier with the only Mesa dealer in my state at that time (WV). I purchased the first one they received, a very early first production run, right off the truck, box unopened. To buy it, I placed an order in advance and drove a 3 hour round trip to pick it up! I got it home, plugged in, and it was everything I hoped it would be.
As we do, I sold that amp (along with my original Mesa 4X12 oversized cab) and moved on to other amps - the IIC+ (which I bought for $400 in a local newspaper ad in 2000!), a few Triaxis rigs, and eventually ended up with an army of 2 channel Dual Rectifiers which suited me (along with my Mesa Traditional Straight 4X12 that I picked up in 2002-2003 that's still my primary cab to this day almost 15 years later). Over the years I tried many more 3 channel models, but none were like the tone I remembered in my head. Was it nothing more than nostalgia playing Jedi Mind Tricks on my tonal memory, or could the 3 channel models possibly have went through revisions just like the 2 channel models? That prompted me to start my research on those (a decade and half later), and this is my story...
DISCLAIMER:
Did the 3 channel Rectifiers go through changes and have revisions just like the 2 channel models? YES! The 3 channel model went through a revision process just like it's 2 channel predecessor did throughout the early 1990's. That is a fact and an objective takeaway from this guide, and those differences will be detailed throughout. However, tone is a very subjective matter that truly is in the ear of the beholder. I am a veteran Rectifier user with a couple decades of experience and more reference points than most will ever have, but I'm also just a single user with a single opinion. It's a very informed opinion, but it is still an opinion nonetheless. I encourage you to use the guide for reference and to help you navigate through the changes, but the only way to know how well a particular model will work for you is to try it for yourself.
SERIAL NUMBERS:
Currently, I am basing the projected serial number ranges only on what I have confirmed. I could likely give an educated guess to help narrow down the ranges, but I want to stick to what is confirmed as fact when possible. The numbers and ranges will be narrowed down in future updates as information becomes available.
The serial number system from the 2 channel model was kept for the 3 channel Dual and Triple Rectifier models as well, using an "R" followed by it's production number on the silver sticker/plate (on the far right) on the back of the chassis by the rectifier tubes (e.g., "R-027934"). The numbers continued in sequence as well, with the first of the 3 channel models picking up where the 2 channel models left off. The first production run of the 3 channel models started in the R-016100 to R-016200 range in late 2000 and continued through roughly the R-050000 mark in 2010 with the introduction of the Multi-Watt. The cutoff is currently an estimate based on the latest original 3 channel model seen and the earliest of the Multi-Watt's identified.
CIRCUIT REVISIONS:
At this time, there are currently 4 confirmed circuit revisions to the 3 channel models. Those revisions (noted as "Rev") are:
Rev C
Rev C+
Rev D
Rev E
It is currently believed that these are the only 4 revisions to the original 3 channel Rectifier series. This belief is based on the earliest Rev C model being identified as being made within the first 600 or so units (and the 3 channel models being manufactured at a rate of more than 2:1 versus the 2 channel models), and the latest Rev E identified as being produced less than 2000 units away from the end of the series. That being said, there is the possibility - however unlikely - that a Rev B or Rev F exists until there is confirmation of the revision models closer to the start and end of the range. If additional information is uncovered, this guide will be updated accordingly.
SPECIAL THANKS to the following Boogie Board members for yanking out their chassis and helping to narrow down some specifics and serial number ranges while I was conducting research: 3124+, LouE, timv, afu, deeman, and Kaisereign.
Now, on to specifics regarding the revisions...
VERSION: 1.5
LAST UPDATED: 3/2/2017
Welcome to the 3 CHANNEL DUAL & TRIPLE RECTIFIER GUIDE! This guide is intended to provide information based on the original 3 channel Rectifier series that was manufactured from 2000-2010. It currently does not provide information on the Multi-Watt series, although those particular models may be addressed in a future update. It also does not provide any detail on the Series II Single Rectifier/Rectoverb at this time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I am a long time Mesa Boogie user and Rectifier enthusiast. As most folks here have seen over the years, I've owned quite a few Rectifiers in the past. In the course of researching the 2 channel models, I owned 150+ and played many more. I've demoed, tube rolled, gigged, and dissected Rectifiers since I purchased my first one back in the 90's (a 1997 Mesa Dual Rectifier, Rev G). I eventually sold that amp a few years later to fund a (then new) 3 channel Mesa Triple Rectifier with the only Mesa dealer in my state at that time (WV). I purchased the first one they received, a very early first production run, right off the truck, box unopened. To buy it, I placed an order in advance and drove a 3 hour round trip to pick it up! I got it home, plugged in, and it was everything I hoped it would be.
As we do, I sold that amp (along with my original Mesa 4X12 oversized cab) and moved on to other amps - the IIC+ (which I bought for $400 in a local newspaper ad in 2000!), a few Triaxis rigs, and eventually ended up with an army of 2 channel Dual Rectifiers which suited me (along with my Mesa Traditional Straight 4X12 that I picked up in 2002-2003 that's still my primary cab to this day almost 15 years later). Over the years I tried many more 3 channel models, but none were like the tone I remembered in my head. Was it nothing more than nostalgia playing Jedi Mind Tricks on my tonal memory, or could the 3 channel models possibly have went through revisions just like the 2 channel models? That prompted me to start my research on those (a decade and half later), and this is my story...
DISCLAIMER:
Did the 3 channel Rectifiers go through changes and have revisions just like the 2 channel models? YES! The 3 channel model went through a revision process just like it's 2 channel predecessor did throughout the early 1990's. That is a fact and an objective takeaway from this guide, and those differences will be detailed throughout. However, tone is a very subjective matter that truly is in the ear of the beholder. I am a veteran Rectifier user with a couple decades of experience and more reference points than most will ever have, but I'm also just a single user with a single opinion. It's a very informed opinion, but it is still an opinion nonetheless. I encourage you to use the guide for reference and to help you navigate through the changes, but the only way to know how well a particular model will work for you is to try it for yourself.
SERIAL NUMBERS:
Currently, I am basing the projected serial number ranges only on what I have confirmed. I could likely give an educated guess to help narrow down the ranges, but I want to stick to what is confirmed as fact when possible. The numbers and ranges will be narrowed down in future updates as information becomes available.
The serial number system from the 2 channel model was kept for the 3 channel Dual and Triple Rectifier models as well, using an "R" followed by it's production number on the silver sticker/plate (on the far right) on the back of the chassis by the rectifier tubes (e.g., "R-027934"). The numbers continued in sequence as well, with the first of the 3 channel models picking up where the 2 channel models left off. The first production run of the 3 channel models started in the R-016100 to R-016200 range in late 2000 and continued through roughly the R-050000 mark in 2010 with the introduction of the Multi-Watt. The cutoff is currently an estimate based on the latest original 3 channel model seen and the earliest of the Multi-Watt's identified.
CIRCUIT REVISIONS:
At this time, there are currently 4 confirmed circuit revisions to the 3 channel models. Those revisions (noted as "Rev") are:
Rev C
Rev C+
Rev D
Rev E
It is currently believed that these are the only 4 revisions to the original 3 channel Rectifier series. This belief is based on the earliest Rev C model being identified as being made within the first 600 or so units (and the 3 channel models being manufactured at a rate of more than 2:1 versus the 2 channel models), and the latest Rev E identified as being produced less than 2000 units away from the end of the series. That being said, there is the possibility - however unlikely - that a Rev B or Rev F exists until there is confirmation of the revision models closer to the start and end of the range. If additional information is uncovered, this guide will be updated accordingly.
SPECIAL THANKS to the following Boogie Board members for yanking out their chassis and helping to narrow down some specifics and serial number ranges while I was conducting research: 3124+, LouE, timv, afu, deeman, and Kaisereign.
Now, on to specifics regarding the revisions...